Open Letter - Gas Attack in Taxonomy

Dear President von der Leyen,

Vice-President Timmermans and Dombrovskis,

Commissioner McGuinness,

We are alarmed by a new proposal allowing fossil fuels into the EU taxonomy.

This new proposal drafted by the European Commission suggests that fossil gas does no harm to

the environment, and therefore could be included as Sustainable for Finance under the EU

Taxonomy. These are baseless claims and are opposed to climate science. Introducing fossil gas

in the EU taxonomy is firmly against the recommendations of the Commission’s Technical Expert

Group and caves in to the demands of the gas lobby.

The EU taxonomy was conceived as a science-based gold standard to avoid greenwashing. With such a

proposal the taxonomy itself would become a greenwashing tool.

Energy security, just transition, and grid reliability are critical for Europe, but are also fully addressed by

other EU policies, funds, and regulations. The purpose of the EU Taxonomy is to correctly label green

finance: this means following the best scientific evidence on an activity’s environmental impact.

Counting gas as green ignores the significant environmental effects of methane, whose impact on

climate change is up to 84 times greater than CO2 in a 20-year timeframe. This means if only 3% of

the gas leaks, it can cause more warming than coal.1 Furthermore, many European gas companies

do not properly measure methane emissions in their supply chain and are not seizing the available

opportunities to reduce these emissions.2 We have no time for false solutions. This is why neither

coal-to-gas nor cogeneration (CHP) should be included in the Taxonomy.

These unwarranted proposals are in direct contradiction with President von der Leyen’s Green Deal and

the EU ambition for higher climate targets. They would also undermine and discredit the EU's global climate

leadership.

With other countries developing competing taxonomies for sustainable investments, the EU Taxonomy can

be a global gold standard, but including fossil gas in the EU Taxonomy will lower global ambition and set a

precedent that could result in other countries labelling a broad range of fossil fuel investments as

sustainable.

1 Climate Bonds Initiative, (2021), The Hidden Emissions from Gas-Fired Power. Available here. 2 Dezem, V., (2021), European Gas Is a Long Way From Tackling Methane Leaks. Available here. Research by

Deutsche Umwelthilfe, urgewald (2021), Market survey: methane emissions from natural gas companies. Available here.

For all of the above reasons, these gas lobby-promoted proposals must not be countenanced. For

the EU Taxonomy to have any sustainable value, the Commission's Delegated Act must be consistent with

the independent Technical Expert Group’s science-based recommendations.

We urge you to reconsider this change in direction and reject the proposal. The undersigned remain ready

to urgently exchange with you on this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Scientists:

Theodor Cojoianu, Queen's University Belfast (GB) and University College Dublin,

Andreas Hoepner, University College Dublin (IE),

Joeri Roeglj, Imperial College London (GB) and International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (AT),

Fabiola Schneider, University College Dublin (IE),

Carol Adams, Durham University Business School (GB),

Stefano Battiston , University of Zurich (CH) and University Ca’ Foscari of Venice (IT),

Monica Billio, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia (IT),

Timo Busch, University of Hamburg (DE),

Charles Cho, York University (GB),

Ceu Cortez, University of Minho (PT),

Fabrizio Ferraro, IESE Business School (ES),

Rajna Gibson Brandon, University of Geneva (CH),

Christian Klein, University of Kassel (DE),

Joanna Krasodomska, Cracow University of Economics (PL),

Gunnar Luderer, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research & Technical University of Berlin (DE),

Giovanna Michelon, University of Bristol (GB),

Irene Monasterolo, Vienna University of Economics and Business (AT),

Cal Muckley, University College Dublin (IE),

Vera Palea, University of Torino (IT),

Joana Portugal-Pereira, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (BR) and University of Lisbon (PT),

Ellen Quigley, Cambridge University (GB),

Saphira Rekker, University of Queensland (AU),

Bill Rutherford, Imperial College London (GB),

Zacharias Sautner, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (DE),

Michael Schmitt, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf (DE),

Florinda Silva, University of Minho (PT),

Vasile Alecsandru Strat , Bucharest University of Economic Studies (RO),

Andrew Vivian, Loughborough University (UK),

Dariusz Wójcik, Oxford University (GB),

Chendi Zhang, University of Exeter (GB),

Laura Antonaru, Imperial College London, (UK),

Francisco Ascui, University of Edinburgh (GB) and University of Tasmania (AU),

Guia Bianchi, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (IT),

Giuliana Birindelli, University of Chieti-Pescara (IT),

Alexander Blasberg, University of Duisburg-Essen (DE),

Giulia Chersoni, University of Turin (IT),

Marius Claudy, University College Dublin (IE),

Sarah-Jane Cullinane, Trinity College Dublin (IE),

Sven De Causmaecker, Imperial College London (GB),

Sabine Dörry, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LU),

Federico Drogo, University of Turin (IT),

Sayed Fadel, Ahlia University (BH),

Felix Freese, Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf (DE),

Sergio Garcia-Vega, University College Dublin (IE),

Maretno Agus Harjoto, Pepperdine University (US),

Esther Hennchen, University College Dublin (IE),

James Hodson, Josef Stefan Institute (SI),

Emin Huseynov, University of Rome La Sapienza (IT),

Kristina Kalasinskaite, Vilnius University (LT),

Mario La Torre, University of Rome La Sapienza (IT),

Robin Lamboll, Imperial College London (GB),

Qian Li, Cardiff University (GB),

Jia Hui Li, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (DE),

Ming-Tsung Lin, University of Essex (GB),

Yanan Lin, University College Dublin (IE),

Rebecca Maughan, University College Dublin (IE),

Seán McGarraghy, University College Dublin (IE),

Jenny Nelson, Imperial College London (GB),

Albu Catalin Nicolae, Bucharest Business School (RO),

Martha O’Hagan-Luff, Trinity College Dublin (IE),

Ifigenia Paliabelos, University of Hamburg (DE),

Maurizio Riesner, University Duisburg-Essen (DE),

Bill Rutherford, Imperial College London (GB),

Jenny Daniela Salazar Zapata, University of Rome La Sapienza (IT),

Kim Schumacher, University of Luxembourg (LU),

Hanna Setterberg, Stockholm School of Economics (SE),

Theresa Spandel, University of Hamburg (DE),

Loukas Spanos, University of Athens (GR),

Anita Suurlaht, University College Dublin (IE)

Raphael Tietmeyer, University of Hamburg (DE)

Ana Flávia Trevizan, University Lisboa (PT)

Michael Urban, University of Oxford (GB)

Sebastian Utz, University of St. Gallen (CH)

Gabija Zdanceviciute, University College Dublin (IE)

Xiaoyan Zhou, University of Oxford (GB)

Sandrine Dixson-Declève, EIT Climate KIC Advisory Board Member, Club of Rome Co-President

National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology - Bulgaria,

Tania Marinova, Scientific Secretary

Research Group on Energy, Economics and Systems Dynamics at the University of Valladolid,

Luis Javier Miguel, Coordinator

Financial Institutions/Associations

Folkesparekassen,

Martha Petersen, Director

Merkur Cooperative Bank, Denmark,

Charlotte Skovgaard, CEO

Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany

Tilman Massa, Consultant

Triodos Bank,

Peter Blom, CEO

Triodos Investment Management,

Jacco Minnaar, CEO

ASN Bank

Arie Koornneef, CEO

ASN Beleggingsfondsen

Bas-Jan Blom, Director

Eurosif - the European Sustainable Investment Forum,

Victor van Hoorn, Executive Director

Civil Society

WWF European Policy Office,

Sebastien Godinot, Senior Economist

Climate Bonds Initiative,

Sean Kidney, CEO

Climate Strategy & Partners,

Peter Sweatman, Chief Executive

Transport & Environment,

Luca Bonaccorsi, Director of Sustainable Finance

BirdLife Europe and Central Asia,

Ariel Brunner, Acting Director and Senior Head of Policy

E3G - Third Generation Environmentalism,

Tsvetelina Kuzmanova, Policy Advisor

Greenpeace European Unit,

Magda Stoczkiewicz, Programme Director

European Environmental Bureau,

Blaine Camilleri, Policy Officer for Fiscal Reform and Circular Economy

Friends of the Earth Europe

Colin Roche, Programme Coordinator Climate Justice and Energy

ClientEarth,

Anaïs Berthier, Head of EU Affairs

Reclaim Finance,

Lucie Pinson, Executive Director

Bellona Europa,

Jonas Helseth, Director

Climate & Company,

Ingmar Juergens, Managing Director

Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe,

Markus Trilling, Finance and Subsidies Policy Coordinator

Oil Change International,

Elizabeth Bast, Director

WeMove Europe,

Virginia López Calvo, Senior Campaigner

Avaaz,

Pascal Vollenweider, Climate Campaign Director

Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility,

Christopher Stockwell, Chair

ActionAid International,

Isabelle Brachet, EU Policy Advisor

NABU,

Verena Bax, Policy Officer EU Energy, Climate and Finance

ECOS,

Mathilde Crêpy, Senior Programme Manager

Alliance of Associations Polish Green Network

Joanna Furmaga-Stoczkiewicz, President

Zelena akcija, Croatia,

Marija Mileta, Gas campaigner/Communications Coordinator

Stowarzyszenie Ekologiczne EKO-UNIA (Ecological Association EKO-UNIA),

Radosław Gawlik, President

Environmental Planning and Education Network,

Dr. Munkácsy Béla, President

Fundacja “Rozwój TAK - Odkrywki NIE”, Poland

Kuba Gogolewski, Senior Finance Campaigner

Pasaules Dabas Fonds,

Jānis Rozītis, Director

Institute for Circular Economy - Bulgaria,

Svetoslav Stoykov, Director

Humusz Szövetség,

György Szabó, Zero Waste Program Manager

Fondation Nicolas Hulot,

Alain Grandjean, Président

Swedwatch,

Davide Maneschi, Project Manager Climate

Food & Water Action Europe,

Frida Kieninger, Senior Campaigner

Re-set: platform for socio-ecological transformation,

Josef Patočka, Researcher & Campaigner

Umanotera, Slovenian Foundation for Sustainable Development,

Jonas Sonnenschein, Policy Officer

BankTrack,

Johan Frijns, Director

Bankwatch Romania,

Laura Nazare, Energy Transformation Campaigner

Andy Gheorghiu Consulting,

Andy Gheorghiu, Campaigner & Consultant

Green Liberty,

Janis Brizga, Chair

Stowarzyszenie Pracownia na rzecz Wszystkich Istot,

Radosław Ślusarczyk, President of the Management Board

Clean Air Action Group (Hungary),

András Lukács, President

Society for Sustainable Living (STUŽ),

Jiří Dlouhý, Chairman

Éghajlatvédelmi Szövetség / Hungarian Climate Alliance,

Lajtmann Csaba, President

Reflex Környezetvédő Egyesület,

Ferenc Horváth, President

Foundation for Environment and Agriculture, Bulgaria,

Albena Simeonova, President

Climate Action Coalition, Bulgaria,

Borislav Sandov, Campaign Coordinator

Environmental Association “Za Zemiata”, Bulgaria

Svetoslav Stoykov, Project Coordinator

Institute for Circular Economy - Bulgaria,

Svetoslav Stoykov, Director

Bluelink Foundation,

Natalia Dimitrova, Chair of the Board

Socio-Ecological Union international,

Sviatoslav Zabelin, Coordinator

350 Denmark,

Thomas Meinert Larsen, Policy Officer

ASUFIN - Asociación de Usuarios Financieros

Patricia Suárez, President

CEE Bankwatch Network,

Raphael Hanoteaux, EU Policy Officer

Deutsche Umwelthilfe

Sascha Müller-Kraenner, CEO

Fair Finance International,

Kees Kodde, Coordinator

Veblen Institute for Economic Reforms,

Wojtek Kalinowski, Co-Director

Centre for Transport and Energy,

Barbora Urbanová, Director

VedvarendeEnergi,

Wawa Wang, Finance and Governance Program Director

Association of European Energy Research Centres (EUREC)

Greg Arrowsmith, Secretary General

Global Witness

Dominic Eagleton, Senior Campaigner

National Ecological Center of Ukraine,

Ruslan Havryliuk, Head

Fair Finance Guide Netherlands (Eerlijke Geldwijzer),

Peter Ras, Project Lead

Estonian Green Movement,

Madis Vasser, Board member

Energiaklub,

Martina Méhes, Managing and Policy Director

The Common Good,

Niels Aagaard, Chairman

Abibinsroma Foundation,

Kenneth Amoateng, Director

Debt Observatory in Globalisation (ODG),

Josep Nualart Corpas, Energy & Climate Researcher

Treeunion Netherlands,

Paul Dufour, Chairman

Energy Watch Group,

Hans-Josef Fell, President

Focus Association for Sustainable Development,

Živa Kavka Gobbo, Chair

ShareAction,

Maria van der Heide, Head of EU Policy

Ocean Energy Europe,

Rémi Gruet, CEO

Re:Common,

Elena Gerebizza, Senior Researcher and Campaigner

EKOenergy Ecolabel,

Steven Vanholme, Programme Manager

ZERO - Association for the Sustainability of the Earth System,

Francisco Ferreira, President

Réseau Action Climat France

Neil Makaroff, Europe Policy Officer

Cittadini per l’Aria Onlus, Italy

Anna Gerometta, President

Transport & Environment France,

Diane Strauss, Director

Transport & Environment Italy,

Carlo Tritto, Policy Officer

Redazione emergenzaclimatica.it,

Angelo Gagliani, Coordinatore

Legambiente,

Edoardo Zanchini, Vice-President

SDGLabs.ai

Hampus Adamsson, Executive Chairman

Sciaena - Oceans Conservation Awareness,

Gonçalo Carvalho, Executive Coordinator

FairFin,

Els Lauriks, Coordinator

Urgewald,

Regine Richter, Energy Campaigner

SumOfUs,

Eoin Dubsky, Campaigner

50by40,

Lasse Bruun, CEO

Climate Safe Lending Network,

James Vaccaro, Executive Director

Limity Jsme My,

Zuzana Vlčková, Member of collective

Ecologistas en Acción,

Sagrario Monedero López, Gas Campaigner

Citizens' Climate Europe,

James Collis, Chair

Deutscher Naturschutzring - German League for Nature, Animal Protection and Environment,

Florian Schöne, Political Director

Climáximo,

João Costa, Volunteer

Ecoloxistes n’Aición d’Asturies,

Paco Ramos, Spokesman

Rifondazione Comunista,

Elena Mazzoni, National Secretary

Both ENDS,

Niels Hazekamp, Senior Policy Officer

Nodo Cantabria Plataforma por un Nuevo Modelo Energético,

Luis Cuena, Spokesman

Legalità per il clima,

Michele Carducci, Coordinator

Carbon Market Watch,

Gilles Dufrasne, Policy Officer

Climateka,

Plamena Marinova, Project Coordinator

ECODES - Fundación Ecología y Desarrollo,

Víctor Viñuales, Director Ejecutivo

ActionAid Denmark,

Eigil Johannisson, Sustainable Finance Advisor

Nesehnuti,

Martin Hyťha, Board Member

VCOE,

Ulla Rasmussen, Senior Policy Officer

National Society of Conservationists, Hungary,

Akos Eger

AnsvarligFremtid,

Johannes Lundberg, Campaign Coordinator

Rivers without Boundaries,

Eugene Simonov, Coordinator

VšĮ "Žiedinė ekonomika"

Domantas Tracevicius, Director

Stop Waste Incineration, Protect the Environment,

Lindsey Williams, Secretary

Natuur & Milieu

Sanne van Keulen, Project Lead Financial Sector

Divestera AP-fonderna,

Maria Hammer, Project Leader

Biodiversity Conservation Center,

Alexey Zimenko, Director General

Défense Des Milieux Aquatiques,

Philippe Garcia, President

Baltic Pipe Nej Tak (Block Baltic Pipe),

Charlotte Valløe, Coordinator

Limity Jsme My,

Zuzana Vlčková, Member of Collective

CSOP Veronica (Ecological Institute),

Yvonna Gaillyová, Chairwoman

Pensioen Vergroeners (the Netherlands),

Cindy Coltman, Senior Policy Officer

Negative Emissions Platform asbl,

Anna Dubowik, Secretary General

Milieudefensie - Friends of the Earth Netherlands

Jonas Hulsens, Senior Policy Officer

Partnership for Policy Integrity,

Mary S. Booth, PhD, Director

Sí Se Puede Canarias,

Ruth Acosta Trujillo, Political Representative

Red Tree Heritage Institute,

Leon Kebe, Director

Eco-Union,

Kristian Petrick, Senior Consultant

Forum Ökologie & Papier,

Evelyn Schönheit, Environmental Specialist

Etika,

Alexander Feldmann, Coordinator

Terra Cypria - the Cyprus Conservation Foundation,

Lefkios Sergides, Director

Crimean Republican Association Ekologiya i Mir,

Andrey Artov, Deputy Head

GLOBAL 2000, Austria

Johannes Wahlmüller, Climate and Energy Campaigner

BirdWatch Ireland

Oonagh Duggan, Head of Advocacy

France Nature Environnement

Arnaud Schwartz, President

International Rivers,

Maureen Harris, Programs Director

Crimean Republican Association Ekologiya i Mir,

Andrey Artov, Vice-Chairman

2Celsius,

Mihai Stoica, Executive Director

Naturfreunde Internationale,

Andrea Lichtenecker, Director

Coastwatch,

Karin Dubsky, Director

CEPA, Slovakia,

Juraj Melichar, Coordinator

The United Reformed Church Bellingham Catford & Lee Green,

Raymond Singh, Minister

Lithuanian Consumers Alliance,

Kęstutis Kupsys, Vice-President

South Worcestershire Methodist Church, UK,

Revd David Haslam MBE, Public Issues Minister

Czech Climate Coalition,

Barbora Valešová, Coordinator

Signatories: 226